Oven door for a vending machine
AssigneeAutomated Retail Technologies, LLC
InventorsJames Edward Deaton, Linda H. Wu, John C. Serieka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vending machine adapted for dispensing at least one pre-packaged food product includes a microwave oven. The microwave oven includes a magnetron that emits microwave electromagnetic radiation, a housing that defines a microwave cavity for receiving the food product. The housing defines a first opening to allow passage of the pre-packaged food product between outside of the microwave cavity and inside of the microwave cavity. The microwave oven also includes a first chain door that selectively covers the first opening so as to prevent the microwave electromagnetic radiation from escaping the housing through the first opening.
Claims15
A vending machine adapted for dispensing at least one pre-packaged food product, the vending machine comprising:
- a microwave oven including:
- a magnetron that emits microwave electromagnetic radiation;
- a housing defining a microwave cavity for receiving the food product, the housing defining a first opening to allow passage of the pre-packaged food product between outside of the microwave cavity and inside of the microwave cavity;
- and
- a first chain door that selectively covers the first opening so as to prevent the microwave electromagnetic radiation from escaping the housing through the first opening.
A method of dispensing at least one pre-packaged food product, comprising:
- selecting the pre-packaged food product from an inventory area;
- moving the selected pre-packaged food product from the inventory area through a first opening of a housing to a microwave cavity of the housing;
- emitting microwave electromagnetic radiation to heat the pre-packaged food product;
- and
- preventing the microwave electromagnetic radiation from leaving the microwave cavity through the first opening with a first chain door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.